Beltran may be headed to DL

MRI on center fielder reveals possible abdominal tear

By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- For Carlos Beltran, the disabled list may have just bridged the gap from possibility to probability.

An MRI taken Sunday morning on Beltran's strained left oblique revealed small amounts of fluid, signaling an abdominal tear. The Mets will continue to monitor Beltran's situation before their next game on Tuesday, at which point they could place their center fielder on the DL.

"I feel sore, I feel tight, I can't swing, I can't run," Beltran said. "That's the way I feel, so I'm not able to play."

And he hasn't played since last Tuesday, now five days in the past and counting. If he were placed on the DL retroactive to that day, he would be eligible to come off on Aug. 8 -- missing as few as seven additional games.

Beltran has been bothered by several nagging injuries all season, and was batting .263 with 19 home runs in 96 games. His absence has forced the Mets to play with a 24-man roster over the past six games, a shortage that caused them to run out of bench players in Saturday's loss to the Nationals.

For now, Beltran will wait for further instructions from team doctors, and hope that the pain subsides. He should have a better idea on his status on Monday.

"I don't know anything about the disabled list," Beltran said. "I'm just waiting for more details from the doctor."

The news was significantly better on catcher Paul Lo Duca, who strained his right hamstring rounding second base in the latter half of Saturday's doubleheader. Lo Duca's MRI showed that he tore previous scar tissue in the leg, but not so badly that he should miss any more time.

Tuesday, of course, marks Tom Glavine's first attempt at career win No. 300, and Lo Duca wants to be behind the plate for the occasion. He said he wouldn't return to the lineup prematurely if he thought his condition would hurt the team, but he also hinted that he'd be willing to play at less than 100 percent.

"I will catch that game," Lo Duca said. "It's something I want to be a part of, and I'm not going to miss it."

Anthony DiComo is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.